Unlike the majority of my colleagues in the profession, I don’t have any A-Level qualifications. Instead, I went through the vocational qualification route after completing my GCSEs via the BTEC educational route. I then completed an engineering degree in London before moving to Southampton to do a PhD.

From a very young age, I always wanted to be an engineer (it explains the BTEC route) and so applied for jobs as a graduate engineer after my studies. I wasn’t successful, but thankfully I had a couple of friends who had recently started in the IP profession and they suggested that I look into becoming a patent attorney.

I should also mention that when I was younger, I loved to argue (I like to say I was just very curious LOL), so becoming a patent attorney seemed to be a logical move – I get to use my engineering educational background and cater to my inherent curiosity.

My applications, to firms in the profession at the time, were unsuccessful, and so I decided to head back to London and do an MSc in Intellectual Property Law as I believed that would help me get into the profession (- so as you can see, I gained my MSc after I gained my PhD). I was one of the lucky few in my year to get a job offer prior to graduating and thus began my 20 plus year career in the IP profession.

Back then attorneys of colour were few and far between, so I kinda stood out when in a room. Nowadays, the IP profession is a lot more diverse and representative.

I am dual-qualified as a Chartered Patent Attorney and a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney, predominately advising small and medium-sized innovative businesses on securing their IP both in the UK and abroad. I believe that small businesses are the mainstay of a country’s economy, and when equipped with the right knowledge and strategies, they can navigate the often complex landscape of IP protection and transform their IP into a competitive advantage.

I can’t imagine myself doing anything else from 9 to 5. No two days are the same and you get to work with creative clients and amazing colleagues day in and day out.

Patent & Trade Mark Attorney / Franks & Co

Last Updated: November 6, 2024